Title:Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Cardiovascular Disease
Volume: 20
Issue: 14
Author(s): Hideyuki Hyogo, Kazuaki Chayama and Sho-ichi Yamagishi
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis.
Abstract: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is among the most common causes of chronic liver disease in the westernized world
and now represents a worldwide public health problem. NAFLD encompasses a broad spectrum of conditions, ranging from simple steatosis
(nonalcoholic fatty liver) to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The latter is recognized as a potentially progressive disease that
could lead to cirrhosis, liver failure, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The recent rise in obesity likely explains the NAFLD epidemic
worldwide. Recognition of the importance of NAFLD and its strong association with metabolic syndrome has stimulated interest in its
putative role in the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Recently, accumulating evidence suggests that NAFLD is associated
with a significant greater overall mortality, as well as with increased prevalence of CVD, both of which are independent of classical atherosclerotic
risk factors. Furthermore, observation studies of natural history of NAFLD have shown that increased age-related mortality of
NAFLD patients is attributable to CVD and liver-related diseases such as liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma. In this paper, we review
clinical data to support a strong association between NAFLD and CVD, and discuss possible underlying mechanisms for accelerated
atherosclerosis in NAFLD.
